Web Accessibility

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Making your next project accessible…

Accessibility is a general term used to describe the degree to which a product (e.g., device, service, environment) is accessible by as many people as possible.

Accessibility can be viewed as the "ability to access" the functionality, and possible benefit, of some system or entity. Accessibility is often used to focus on people with disabilities and their right of access to entities, often through use of assistive technology.

Accessibility - Wikipedia

What is Accessibility?

Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can use the Web.

More specifically, Web accessibility means that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate, and interact with the Web, and that they can contribute to the Web.

W3C Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI)

Why should I worry about Accessibility?

The Web is an increasingly important resource in many aspects of life: education, employment, government, commerce, health care, recreation, and more. It is essential that the Web be accessible in order to provide equal access and equal opportunity to people with disabilities.

In addition to equal access and equal opportunity, it is important to be accessible to the end-user from a business standpoint (inaccessible sites lose customers).

The Internet established a creative and innovative means of communication that links people and ideas across national boundaries.

Accessibility is the way to be certain these ideas are available to as many people as possible.

Accessibility is the LAW

While there are many other reasons to make websites accessible (usability, search engine optimization, translation, proper viewing on mobile devices), one of the most important reasons from a business standpoint is because it is the Law.

Section 508: Federal agencies

The Federal government has included electronic and information technology with its 1998 Amendment to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. This means that ALL Federal agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others.

National Federation of the Blind vs. Target

The court held: "the 'ordinary meaning' of the ADA's prohibition against discrimination in the enjoyment of goods, services, facilities or privileges, is that whatever goods or services the place provides, it cannot discriminate on the basis of disability in providing enjoyment of those goods and services."

The court thus rejected Target's argument that only its physical store locations were covered by the civil rights laws, ruling instead that all services provided by Target, including its Web site, must be accessible to persons with disabilities.

How can I make my site accessible?

Important Stuff!

What was Target doing wrong?

  • » Lacked compliant alt-text (images)
  • » Contained inaccessible image maps and other graphical features (prevented blind users from navigating and using all functions of the website)
  • » Required the use of a mouse to complete transactions (which blind users cannot do independently)

Doing the right thing

Masafumi "Max" Nakane

3 things you can do to make your websites more accessible for everyone.

  • » Use the "alt" tag to describe images
  • » Write meaningful links
  • » Use effective page titles and headings

W3C Accessibility

"The power of the Web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect." -- Tim Berners-Lee, W3C Director and inventor of the World Wide Web

Web Accessibility Initiative

WAI Guidelines and Techniques

  • » Web Content (WCAG)
  • » Authoring Tool (ATAG)
  • » User Agent (UAAG)
  • » Evaluation Language (EARL)
  • » WAI-ARIA (Rich Applications)
  • » Specific Technologies
  • » Development Process

W3C Web Accessibility Initiative

W3C Quick Tips

10 Quick Tips

  1. Images & animations: Use the alt attribute to describe the function of each visual.
  2. Image maps. Use the client-side map and text for hotspots.
  3. Multimedia. Provide captioning and transcripts of audio, and descriptions of video.
  4. Hypertext links. Use text that makes sense when read out of context. For example, avoid "click here."
  5. Page organization. Use headings, lists, and consistent structure. Use CSS for layout and style where possible.
  6. Graphs & charts. Summarize or use the longdesc attribute.
  7. Scripts, applets, & plug-ins. Provide alternative content in case active features are inaccessible or unsupported.
  8. Frames. Use the noframes element and meaningful titles.
  9. Tables. Make line-by-line reading sensible. Summarize.
  10. Check your work. Validate. Use tools, checklist, and guidelines at http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG

How am I doing?

Evaluating Web Sites for Accessibility

  • » W3C provides a suite of resources for evaluating Web sites for accessibility
  • » Keep in mind, these resources are not a step-by-step checklist
  • » Assists Web site development as well as ongoing monitoring

Evaluating Web Sites for Accessibility

Content Links

Sources